Apparel fabric from Pakistan is produced in the mills of Faisalabad, Karachi and Lahore across the full range of woven and knitted constructions: woven plain (poplin, cambric, lawn; 60–140 GSM; 44–60 in width for shirts and blouses), woven twill (chino, denim, cargo; 200–380 GSM; 58–60 in for trousers and workwear), knitted single jersey and interlock (140–260 GSM; 60 in tubular for T-shirts and activewear), French terry and brushed fleece (260–400 GSM for sweatshirts and hoodies), and rib knit (160–260 GSM for polo collars, cuffs and tank tops). Pakistan's GSP+ duty-free access to the EU applies to grey and finished fabric exports (HS Chapters 52, 54, 60), giving EU-based garment manufacturers a landed-cost advantage over equivalent-quality Chinese or Indian fabric at standard MFN rates. MOQ per colour is typically 200–500 m for solid-colour knit and woven fabric, with lead times of 2–4 weeks for stock colours and 4–6 weeks for custom dye lots.
Step 1 — Fabric Category Selection
| Category | Type | GSM range | Width | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woven — plain | Poplin, cambric, lawn | 60–140 GSM | 44–60 in | Shirts, blouses, children's |
| Woven — twill | Chino, denim, cargo twill | 200–380 GSM | 58–60 in | Trousers, workwear, jeans |
| Knit — jersey | Single jersey, interlock | 140–260 GSM | 60 in tubular | T-shirts, dresses, activewear |
| Knit — fleece | French terry, brushed fleece | 260–400 GSM | 60 in open-width | Sweatshirts, hoodies, joggers |
| Knit — rib | 1×1, 2×2 rib | 160–260 GSM | 60 in tubular | Polo, tank tops, cuffs |
Step 2 — Quality Parameters to Specify
GSM tolerance: ±5% (within-roll and roll-to-roll). Width tolerance: ±2 cm on open-width knit; ±1 cm on woven. Shrinkage: ≤3% warp and weft after 3 × 40°C wash (knit); ≤2% warp, ≤3% weft (woven). Colour fastness: ≥4 Grey Scale for washing, perspiration and light (for retail programmes). Yarn count tolerance: ±3 Ne. Bow/skew: ≤2% for woven; ≤3% for knit (measured after cutting to avoid garment distortion).
Step 3 — Width Standards and Cut Efficiency
Woven fabrics: standard 44 in (112 cm) or 58/60 in (147/152 cm). Wide-width wovens for bed linen and home textiles: up to 120 in (305 cm). Knit fabrics — tubular delivery: the circumference equals the finished width; open one fold for the lay width. A wider fabric width reduces cut-lay waste, especially on sleeved garments — a 58 in fabric saves 8–12% fabric versus 44 in on a T-shirt lay. Specify open-width delivery for knits if your cutting room requires it.
Step 4 — Certification for Fabric Rolls
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on the greige or finished fabric — the certificate must cover the specific fabric construction and colour. GOTS chain-of-custody for organic cotton fabric: the mill must hold a GOTS scope certificate; a transaction certificate is issued per shipment. GRS for recycled polyester or recycled cotton blended fabrics. Test reports (REACH, CPSIA for children's) available from accredited labs on request. Specify required certifications in the sourcing quote form.
Step 5 — Minimum Order Quantities and Lead Times
Standard MOQ per colour: 200–500 m for solid colours; 500–1,000 m for custom-woven patterns. Lead time for stock colours: 2–4 weeks. Lead time for custom dye lots: 4–6 weeks. Warp-knit and jacquard wovens: 8–12 weeks. Fabric is shipped by roll in cartons (typically 20–30 m per roll) or on cardboard cores. Specify packaging method if your receiving warehouse has specific requirements.
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Disclaimer: This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, customs or compliance advice. Always verify requirements against your buyer specification, applicable regulations and your destination market before making commercial decisions.